An Aural Account: Recent Episodes
Molly Seghi
An authentic exploration of life as I know it, through thoughts and conversations I have, interesting people I meet, and research I have done.
The world’s response to Hamas’s brutal terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, has exposed a painful reality that many of us never wished to face. In this episode, Daniel Ohana and I explore the moral inconsistencies prevalent in the wake of the Israel-Hamas War. We examine the boundaries of free speech and activism versus performative activism. We relate intersectionality to our understanding of our political identities and argue why it is dangerous. We share conflicts we have faced and our nonnegotiable values.
"A Cry for Moral Consistency" Article
The March for Israel on November 14, 2023, was the largest pro-Israel rally in United States history with over 290,000 people marching peacefully at the National Mall in Washington DC and over 250,000 participating online. The rally aimed to show solidarity with the state and people of Israel, condemn antisemitism, and demand the immediate and safe release of the hostages taken by Hamas. In this episode, Levi D’Amato and Ailee Shanes from the “Two Jews, 10 Opinions” podcast and I reflect on our experiences at the monumental rally. We discuss the struggles we are facing as Jewish student journalists and how far antisemitic media has gone. We share what Jewish pride means to us as well as what the state of Israel represents to the Jewish people worldwide. Thank you to the UF Hillel delegation for this incredible opportunity and Am Yisrael Chai!
A resource list for the Israel-Hamas war
Listen to the Two Jews, 10 Opinions podcast here.
Follow Levi and Ailee on social media:@a_shanes10 on Instagram and X@levidamato on Instagram
Over the last century, the media has misled the public by villainizing and politicizing the fight for Jewish survival. The Jewish nation has been threatened since the beginning of time, yet we have prevailed. Many believe that educating themselves through the news and research can give them an understanding of the complicated and lengthy history of the Middle East conflict and by extension, Israel and the Jewish people. What we cannot learn through textbooks is the culture and values surrounding a place and people. Listen as 30 friends from around the world share stories that highlight the beauty of the Jewish people and the Jewish state. From mundane normalities to perspective-shifting occurrences, people who visit Israel feel a strong sense of community and shared identity that they have never experienced anywhere else.
Resources to support the Jewish cause:
IDF
Just One Thing
Tehillim for Soldiers
Free the Hostages
StandWithUs
AIPAC
Starting a completely new phase of life unlocked a new level of freedom I had never felt before. In this episode, I speak about the importance of having that freedom and how I have been putting my energy back into myself. Most of what it takes to do everything I dreamed of doing is believing that I can. And now I do.
Please donate to my Sharsheret fundraiser, every dollar counts:
Sharsheret Fundraiser- Half-Marathon
"Do What You Love" Reel
This was recorded on Labor Day September 4, 2023. What is meant for you will find you in its right time, just be patient.
Have you ever been to a concert where everyone in the crowd was nearly identical to each other in appearance and behavior? Have you ever noticed how you feel much more free when listening to coming-of-age music while angrier when listening to rap? Well, Leah Chambers and I have. In this episode, we examine different identities and “eras” created by being a part of a certain audience and whether we should judge an artist by their art. We then discuss how our relationship with music has changed over time and with social media. Leah introduces the concept of decision fatigue and how important it is to actively choose what we consume.
Sources:
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
“Lew’s Lullaby” by Ritt Momney
"Auntie Diaries" by Kendrick Lamar
Musical Influence
How does music affect your brain? | Live Science
The inescapable nature of musicals artists’ influence
Can You Hear the Music?
The harmful side of music: Understanding the effects of rumination on adolescent mental health
This episode is a part of a series that explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of womanhood. The topics covered in this episode are: -Wedding Pinterest boards -The confidence gap between men and women -The expectation of perfection -The scene of girls getting ready to go out -The deep natural capacity to love, care, and sympathize
Sources: Opinion | The Hunger Fed by ‘Barbie’ and Taylor Swift - The New York Times “In a Good Way” by Faye Webster "How does perfectionism influence body image?" Episode America Ferrera's Empowering 'Barbie' Monologue: Read the Full Text | Entertainment Tonight Preview: Taylor Swift on sexist labels in the music industry
There is a reason why people argue that love is necessary for our existence. We consume love in the media we watch, the music we listen to, and the art we admire. But what is love? To understand why love is such a fundamental value and inspiration in our society, we must examine what it means at a basic level. In this episode, I explore Ancient Greek's seven forms of love found in various relationships. I discuss what it means to "love" versus to "be in love" and how understanding the five love languages is crucial for relationships.
Sources:
What Is Love?
The Ancient Greeks Recognized 7 Different Forms Of Love | by Acamea
How do you learn to love yourself? (“Love Yourself Without Likes” Episode)
9 Core Differences Between Love And Being In Love
Love in Different Languages: 118 Various Ways to say I Love You
The Organ in the University Auditorium of the University of Florida was played on July 10, 2023.
In this episode, my friend, Leah Chambers, and I have a conversation about everything from confidence and our inner child to our addiction to our phones and why we need an internet apocalypse. Listen as we share our thoughts and laugh together.
Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band from Montreal, performed at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale on June 14, 2023.
It’s you, from June 14, 2023. Here is who we are at the end of the year. We hope we made you proud. X Dear, Future Lily and Molly- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vPOCD2pImLbUHmSAf8yRo?si=g0WO6xixQteLeJTZKMoEtw
Blackbird by the Beatles Live Cover by Marsh Dondurma at Yellow Submarine on December 3, 2022.
When you live somewhere, you get a much better understanding of the culture and society than if you were just to visit. Being blessed with the opportunity to live abroad in Israel for the year has highlighted the beauty of a country of one people, a family. Listen as my friends and madrichim from around the world on my World Bnei Akiva program called Kivun share personal anecdotes about unique experiences they have had while in Israel.
Ishay Ribo is an Israeli singer-songwriter. A Sephardic Orthodox Jew, he has gained popularity in Israel among Haredi, national-religious, and secular Jewish audiences. He performed live at Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem for Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s 75th Independence Day) on April 25, 2023.
Ten-second intervals, minimal showers, copious amounts of canned food, repeat. In this episode, my friend Oliver Ziff and I unpack our experience on Marva, a two-month army basic training course. We share our views about the trials and tribulations of an IDF soldier, as well as unique struggles we faced. We reminisce about notable characters and stories from our time living on the Sde Boker Gadna base. We conclude by reflecting on our takeaways from the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you were to open the YouTube app on my phone, most of the videos you would see on the Home page are philosophy related. But, that is the extent of my philosophy knowledge. In this episode, Mateo Resnick, a friend of mine who has been studying philosophy since he was sixteen, enlightens me on some basic schools of thought and his philosophy journey. He explores the everyday benefits of understanding philosophy, as well as how to set boundaries for yourself while studying it. Mateo then shares different resources to help you start a philosophy journey of your own.Sources:“School of Life” on YouTube“Sisyphus 55” on YouTube and SpotifyThe Egg- A Short Story by Kurzgesagt- https://youtu.be/h6fcK_fRYaI “Daily Stoic” on Spotify“The Republic” by Plato“The Stranger” by Albert Camus“Philosophy For Dummies” by Thomas V. Morris
Addis Ken – አዲስ ቀን (“New Day” in Amharic) – is the name of a unique musical project from international composer, vocalist and sax player Abate Berihun. A prolific saxophonist, composer and vocalist, Berihun is one of Israel’s most prominent Ethiopian musicians, who has toured and collaborated with musical giants such as Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and Gigi, and is the founder and leader of influential afro-jazz and ethnic ensembles “Tezeta”, “Ras Dashen” and “Kuluma”. They played at Yellow Submarine on January 5.
This episode is part of the “Lessons I’ve Learned” series, which tackles the significance of experiential learning. The following concepts are covered in this episode:-You become who you surround yourself with-Listen to your gut
Look up the word “gratitude” on any search engine and you will find millions of results. In this week’s episode, Edan Green joins me to explore why. In honor of Thanksgiving, we consider what gratitude means, as well as different ways to practice it. Edan shares what gratitude is through the lens of Judaism and Kabbalistic thought. We then contrast the pursuit of happiness to acceptance and discuss how to ultimately tap into your latent gratitude.
Sources: “The Attitude of Gratitude” Episode Playlist- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7jGlgOxjJQur1yKta8EBpc?si=iKV_glX7TOSHXOVtYPsc0w 30-Day Gratitude Challenge by BestSelf Co.- https://open.spotify.com/show/7mwRCtZiQJ93T4HyAHnqy1?si=vOcSCAEURLqCJkVBhcrE2A Grateful Living- https://grateful.org The Five Minute Journal- https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Change-Mindfulness-Reflection-Affirmations/dp/0991846206
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese contemporary artist, is recognized for being the most successful living female artist. While that is one of the aspects that drew me and Ella Goldwater to her, there were several others as well. In this episode, we discuss the captivating picturesque quality of her trademark polka dots and infinity installations. We consider how Kusama involves the viewer into her artwork and relate it to personal experiences of visiting exhibits she created. Ella shares a piece of her research paper on how mental health influences artists’ works; Kusama’s work reflects her mind through the lens of her schizophrenia.
Sources: “A Beautiful Mind” created by Ron Howard “Yayoi Kusama in 7 Minutes” by Curious Muse- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EjUJVrYEftFKCo2qbwm9Z?si=F7gHNi_3RHu6qeNU1h0aFw Yayoi Kusama: Great Art Explained- https://youtu.be/wgSBtXNJjhs “The Yayoi Kusama Phenomenon” by Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sE8r9LJCcQLjwTyd1c3D1?si=iTPOj4H9RZ6soQusN6tA6Q
The other day, while flipping through the pages in my journal, I stumbled upon an entry from my first day interning at the Wolfsonian-FIU Art Museum in Miami. In it, I document a story of the collections photographer, Lynton.
You have probably heard how essential it is to surround yourself with people who inspire you to grow. I know I have heard it too many times to count. This lesson never resonated with me as much as it does now, after being in an environment with artists who are incredibly creatively driven and talented. Three of them, Ella Goldwater, Liya Vaanunu, and Reuel Well, join me in a round table-styled discussion to share their creative journeys and pursuits. We define, compare, and contrast self-expression and creativity. Between a shameless amount of book plugs, we then share ways to develop and work on creativity.
Sources: What is Self Expression? https://positivepsychology.com/self-expression/ Three Modes of Creativity- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/ 341498198_Three_Modes_of_Creativity Exploring Creative Self-Expression- https://www.calmsage.com/creative-self-expression/amp/ Myer-Briggs Personality Types Sun Yuan and Peng Yu: Can’t Help Myself- https://youtu.be/ZS4Bpr2BgnE “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V. E. Schwab “Almond: A Novel” by Sony Won-pyung The Harry Potter Novels by J.K. Rowling Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas Brandon Sanderson “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl
This episode introduces the “Lessons I’ve Learned” series, which tackles the significance of experiential learning. The following concepts are covered in this episode: -Whatever is right for you will find you -The importance of reality -The importance of taking advantage of every opportunity given to you, as well as creating your own
The initial adventure I embarked on during my gap year was spending three weeks living communally on a kibbutz. There, I met Daniel Glassner, a 12th-grade student and Magen David Adom (MDA) instructor, who has lived on Ein HaNatziv for the majority of his life. This episode is a conversation about Daniel’s everyday life as a teenager on one of Israel’s only remaining religious Kibbutzim. He describes the functionality of the Kibbutz, as well as its values, which he later compares to his own.
It’s you, from September 12, 2022. Here is who we hope you are by the end of the year. We cannot wait to meet you. X
Matan Kramer Richard- https://open.spotify.com/artist/5T6vlmNbCScpHYJ7pcUfYb?si=-8kWDn20QYO6a9vG-64qLA
My grandmother, Laya Firestone Seghi, is the embodiment of Mother Nature and her symbiotic relationship to our world. To her, navigating life means understanding our physical environment. In this episode, she recounts five adventures from her lifetime: her experiences at Camp Moshava, living on a Kibbutz in Israel, camping in the Vancouver mountains, raising animals on a farm in Missouri, and sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. She connects her experiences to the idea that nature is eternal and healing, and demonstrates how it can be utilized as a form of therapy.
This series was born as a result of Gani Hoch and my mutual fascination of feelings. We dive deep into emotions you have felt, but could not describe, by breaking down what they mean and relating them to our own lives. This episode covers Monachopsis, Adronitis, Altschmerz, Sonder, Onism, Ambedo, Liberosis, Vemödalen, Catoptric Tristesse, Kairosclerosis, and Mal de Coucou. Source: https://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2016/02/40-words-for-emotions-youve-felt-but-couldnt-explain/
Millions of books, articles, and videos have been created with the sole purpose of tackling the question: how can I have conversation with anyone? The ability to start and hold a discussion does not come naturally to many, if not most, people. The exception to the majority is my father, Gabe Seghi. In this episode, my dad gives insight about the importance of having conversations with strangers and how to initiate them. We discuss the power of complimenting people and understanding that everyone has similar fears; breaking these ideas down is critical in creating productive dialogue. Source: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/have-hold-conversation/
Andy Warhol, known as the patriarch of pop art, was an icon whose presence and impact has been valued for decades. Warhol’s awareness and self-expression has deeply resonated with me from a young age; a visit to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh when I was 10 years old marked the moment I became a creator. This episode is a brief recollection of what I've learned and experienced about Warhol’s life and hoarding disorder through books, documentaries, and art exhibits. Sources: Andy Warhol - The Andy Warhol Museum- https://www.warhol.org/andy-warhols-life/ The Perez Art Museum Miami’s Marisol and Warhol Take New York- https://www.pamm.org/en/exhibition/marisol-and-warhol-take-new-york/ The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again) by Andy Warhol I Bought Andy Warhol by Richard Polsky Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder: Inside the Minds of History's Great Personalities by Claudia Kalb The Andy Warhol Diaries on Netflix
As I am on the cusp of adulthood, learning to let go of relationships, situations, and identities that no longer serve me is crucial in making room for the next stage of life and what it brings. This episode, inspired by Damon Zahariades’s “The Art of Letting GO,” explores different scenarios where letting go may be necessary, complimented by personal narratives.
Sources: “The Art of Letting GO: How to Let Go of the Past, Look Forward to the Future, and Finally Enjoy the Emotional Freedom You Deserve!” by Damon Zahariades “The Art of Letting GO” by Damon Zahariades Notes- https://docs.google.com/document/d/16B0KCI_NYcYs8CcESEVR5IhVvD8RaiIE_mP7Ngb6UzA/edit “The Power of Letting Go” by For the Healthy Hoes- https://open.spotify.com/episode/16B19UnbVoREtaKCKbABBS?si=ErQU23v6RvGXM1rPc1qrjg “Let’s Talk About… Letting Go” by Let’s Talk About Mental Health- https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NbgkQYlqH97NuxsGy4q8W?si=8GhNilTXSbutjslyehZjTQ